U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth meets Netanyahu in Israel amid election and Iran conflict talks

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to Israel on Monday and held a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to senior U.S. military officials and an Israeli source. The visit was not publicly announced and occurred less than ten days before Israel’s scheduled elections.

Hegseth posted on X that he was in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, sharing a photo of himself speaking to American service members on what he described as a "historic mission," without specifying his exact location.

The Pentagon declined to comment on the trip, and CBS News has sought a response from the Israeli government. The visit follows recent statements by President Donald Trump indicating he is weighing options ranging from a diplomatic deal with Iran to renewed military action, a decision he said could be made after the November midterm elections.

Netanyahu, who leads Israel’s longest-serving government, told local media that he does not plan to launch new strikes against Iran before the Oct. 27 elections, noting that such actions would be "not convenient for us."

President Trump publicly endorsed Netanyahu, calling him a "Great Warrior Prime Minister" and a "Partner for Peace" in confronting Iran. The administration has previously urged Israel to moderate its operations in Lebanon, address settler violence in the West Bank, and pursue a longer-term arrangement with Hamas in Gaza.